Well, I had not even heard about her a few days ago, but →[More:]Joanna Newsome just happened to be playing here last night. It was unlike any music I had ever heard.

The WOW Hall WAY oversold this show. People standing wall to all, literally, and we were fortunate to get there early and sit on pew-like seats along the side (like Crystal Ballroom on PDX but smaller)and then sat on the tops of those pew against the wall as the crowd flowed against us and literally pushed us up there.

After a lot of yelling and a near riot, everyone sat down, again filling all available floor space, and she pretty much transformed the room into hers. Her band was incredible, with the best being the last song in the regular set, with her accoridian player playing a saw.

After about 10 minutes, the lights came on, recorded music started, and people gave up their cheering and stomping and THEN she came back on (there is a green room there but her bus was just out the back door so the musicians used that as a green room, apparently) and did 3 older tunes alone on the harp. Two of her musicians, who obviously hear here every night were off to the side, rapt in listening as any of us were.

The juxtaposition of this ethereal, lyrically and musically dense music, against a more racous, indie rock type crowd was amazing. The whole concert was.

She's sold out in portland tonight, apparently, and some portland people came down to see here in eugene, in order to get a chance.

Highly recommended. And I have Mecha to thank for even knowing.